Shoelace tip holding means



Sept. 26,1944. B, ORD 2,359,229

" SHOE- LACE T171, HOLDING MEANS Filed Feb. 22, 1944 Inventor PatentedSept. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOELACE TIP HOLDING MEANSByron O. Lord, Clayton, Mich. 7 Application February 22, 1944, SerialNo. 523,438

' 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to clasps, clips, and analogous holdersand accessories such as are used on footwear for purposes of anchoringthe free tip-equipped ends of a duly tied shoe lace'to prevent tanglingand knotting, and the important purpose of the invention is to generallyimprove upon known as well as patented accessories in this category,this through the instrumentality of a unique and readily distinguishableform of retainer clip.

By way of introduction it is to be pointed out that in practice it isnecessaryto use two keepers or clips though I have shown but a singleone in Figure 1. Obviously, a description of one holding clip willsufiice for both for which reason the language will appear, generally,in the singular.

As implied in the preceding paragraphs, I am full well aware that theart to which theinvention relates is characterized by various styles andforms of fasteners and clips. Even so and notwithstanding this admitteddevelopment of the existing art, I have nevertheless devised one which,it is believed, is more aptly fitted for the purposes intended andsusceptible of fulfilling the requirements of the trade and the users.

Briefly, I have accomplished the desired result through the adoption anduse of a simple and inexpensive attaching and adapter clip capable ofbeing readily applied and removed, this being provided with a reliableand readily usable detent for binding and holding the tip-equipped endof the lace with requisite security, the form of the detent being suchthat the lace may be quickly inserted and just as quickly detached.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a shoe provided with a lace-endretaining clasp constructed in accordance with the specific principlesof the instant invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged outside or front elevation of the attachmentdetached from the shoe hopper.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation thereof.

Referring now to th drawing by distinguishing reference numerals it willbe seen that the accessory is characterized by two main parts;

namely, the adapter and attaching clip 5 and the resilient associatedlace clasp or detent 6. The part 5 is preferably of spring metal and ofapproximate U-shaped form, the same being bent between its ends as at land defining inner and outer limbs 8 and 9 the free ends of which havestruck-out prongs l0 and II. These are pointed to serve as anchoringspurs and are adapted to pierce opposite sides of the shoe upper atabout the points indicated in Figure 1. It will be noticed that theintermediate portion of the outer limb 9 is provided with an indentationI2 which serves as a reinforcin bead as well as a seating depression forthe inner free ends l3 of the metal wire clasp 6. The clasp is also aU-shaped member bent between its ends with the free ends of the limbspassing through apertures adjacent the bend 1 and seated in saiddepression formed by the bead [2. The bight portion of the wire isdeflected laterally as indicated at M, this extending beyond theadjacent lower end of the bead l2. It facilitates placement and removalof the tip-equipped end l5 of the shoe lace.

Th intermediate portions of the limbs of said wire part 6 are formedinto keeper bends l5 and these serve as keeper seats for the lace-end.These bends coact nicely with the bead in safely and securely holdingsaid lace-end in the outof-the-way safety position shown in Figure 1. Inthe latter figure the shoe A is shown provided with the conventionallace which is tied into the customary bow B. The free tipped end I5 isthe end which is slipped up between the bead l2 and keeper-bends l6. Asstated the deflected or flared end l4 facilitates insertion and removalof said lace-end. It will be noticed too that the opposite free ends ofthe wire forming said part 6 are nicely nested and seated in the recessformed by the reinforcing bead l2 to prevent marring or scratching ofthe leather of the shoe upper.

In practice, all that is necessary is to drop the fork-like clip 5 downover the shoe upper and to seat it in place at the approximate pointindicated in Figure 1, the spurs I0 and II piercing the leather andserving to hold the clip in place. Then the device is ready for use. Themethod of use is so simple as to obviate the necessity of including anextended explanation.

It is submitted that an accessory of this type is simple, economical andotherwise aptly fitted for the purposes intended. The inherentpossibilities and features are such as to put the device in a class byitself compared to similar patented .clasps, clips and fasteners.

anchoring clip, a clasp carried by the outer member of the clip, saidclasp being in the form of a U-shaped resilient wire element bentbetween its ends to provide an outwardly flaring element and furtherbent to provide opposed bends forming keeper seats for the lace-end.

2. A shoe lace retainer of the class described comprising a U-shapedadapter clip having anchoring spurs, the outer limb thereof beingprovided with an indentation defining a longitudinal reinforcing bead,the inner side of said bead constituting a recess, and a claspconstructed from wire having its free ends fastened upon the bentportion of the clip and extending inwardly between the limbs of theclip, the extremities thereof being arranged by nesting in said recessin the manner and for the purpose described.

3. A shoe lace retainer of the class described comprising an adapter andanchoring clip having an exteriorly disposable member provided with alongitudinally elongated indentation defining an outwardly projecting,longitudinal reinforcing bead, and a clasp mounted thereon, said claspbeing in the form of a U-shaped resilient wire element, the bight endportion thereof being deflected and flaring outwardly and projectingbeyond one end of said bead, the limbs thereof coacting with thelongitudinal edge portions of said bead and the intermediate limbportions being provided with opposed bends forming keeper seats coactingwith the bead and adapted to receive the associated lace-end.

BYRON C. LORD.

